Winning a dynasty baseball league isn't about who has the best team on Opening Day. It’s about who has the best team three years from now while still being a menace today. Most people fail at this balance. They either go "full rebuild" and suck for a decade, or they trade away every prospect for a 33-year-old starter whose elbow is held together by hope and athletic tape. If you want to actually win, you've probably heard the name Eric Cross.
Eric Cross is basically the gold standard for dynasty analysis. He’s the lead MLB writer at RotoBaller and co-host of The Toolshed podcast. When he drops his updates, the fantasy community stops scrolling. Why? Because the eric cross dynasty rankings aren’t just a list of names; they’re a roadmap for player valuation that accounts for the stuff most of us overlook.
The Strategy Behind the Board
Honestly, rankings are everywhere. You can find a "Top 100" list on a dozen different sites in five minutes. But Cross does things a bit differently. He looks at more than just the back of a baseball card. He’s diving into Statcast data, checking out chase rates, and—most importantly—scouting the minor leagues with an intensity that’s kind of terrifying.
For 2026, the landscape has shifted. We aren't just looking at the Shohei Ohtanis of the world anymore. We’re looking at how the "aging curves" of veteran stars are starting to intersect with a massive wave of young talent.
What Most People Get Wrong About Player Value
Most managers see a high ranking and assume a player is "untouchable." That’s a mistake. Cross often highlights that dynasty value is fluid. For instance, he recently moved Nick Kurtz to the top of his first base rankings. Why? Because Kurtz didn't just have a good rookie year; he led all of baseball in wOBA and wRC+ after May 20th in 2025.
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If you were still holding onto a veteran like Christian Walker—who is a stud but is now 35—you might have missed the window to swap for a cornerstone like Kurtz. Cross’s rankings help you identify those "pivot points" before your league-mates do.
Eric Cross Dynasty Rankings: The 2026 Core
If you’re looking at the top of the list for this year, it’s a dogfight. Bobby Witt Jr. has been parked at the #1 spot in Cross's rankings for over a year now. It makes sense. The guy is 25, hits 30 homers, and steals 40 bases. He’s the perfect dynasty asset.
But look further down. That’s where the real money is made.
- The Elly Factor: Elly De La Cruz is a polarizing figure. In 2025, his numbers looked "disappointing" to some because he only hit .264. But Cross pointed out that Elly played the second half with a torn quad.
- The Pitching Gap: Paul Skenes is sitting as the SP1 for many, and for good reason. But Cross reminds us that pitcher durability is a myth. He balances high-upside arms with "floor" bats to ensure your roster doesn't collapse if a TJ surgery happens.
- The Youth Movement: Junior Caminero and Jackson Chourio are the types of players Cross was touting years ago. Now, they're top-10 overall assets.
Why Scouting Matters More Than You Think
I’ve been playing dynasty for a long time, and the biggest edge you can have is "information asymmetry." You want to know a player is a star before he’s on the news. Cross lives for this. He spends his summers at Portland Sea Dogs games in Maine, watching the future stars of the Red Sox and other organizations.
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His prospect rankings aren't just based on "hype." He looks at:
- Batted ball angles: Is the kid hitting everything into the dirt?
- Zone contact rates: Can he actually hit a strikeout pitch?
- Physical projection: Will he grow into 30-homer power?
Take someone like Emil Morales, a Dodgers shortstop prospect. Cross has been high on him because he saw the "juice" in his swing during Low-A. While the rest of your league is looking at the MLB box scores, Cross is telling you to trade for the kid in Single-A who is about to explode.
Handling the "Win Now" vs. "Rebuild" Dilemma
Every dynasty manager faces the same question: Should I trade my prospects for a title?
Cross's philosophy is pretty clear: target players with high potential impact over "utility" guys who just make it to the Bigs. There’s a massive difference between a player who is a "good real-life baseball player" and a "fantasy superstar." You want the latter.
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If you're in the middle of the pack, Cross often suggests taking a step back to move forward. It’s better to be the worst team in the league for one year and get a high pick than to be the 6th best team for five years. His rankings help you see where the "tiers" are. If you have three players in Tier 2, maybe you can package them for a Tier 1 superstar and actually make a run.
Actionable Steps for Your 2026 Season
You shouldn't just copy and paste the rankings. That's boring and won't teach you how to be a better manager. Instead, use them as a "sanity check" for your own evaluations.
Start by auditing your roster. Look at the ages. If you have more than three starters over the age of 32, you're in a "danger zone." Use the eric cross dynasty rankings to find younger targets who have similar Statcast profiles but haven't reached their peak value yet.
Keep an eye on the "Toolshed" updates. These usually come out monthly during the season and once or twice during the winter. The November update is usually the most important one because it accounts for the entire previous season's data.
Finally, don't be afraid to be aggressive. Dynasty rewards the bold. If Cross identifies a "riser" like J.J. Wetherholt or Konnor Griffin, don't wait for them to hit the majors. The price will only go up. Buy the talent, trust the process, and let the rankings be the fuel for your championship run.
Go check your league's trade block right now. Look for the veterans that Cross has flagged as "declining" and see if you can find a manager who is desperate for a playoff push. That’s how dynasties are built. One smart trade at a time.